Kyra

As I walked into the living room, I saw a tall muscular guy sitting with my father. The stranger was dressed sharply in a navy blue suit, his physique and aura reminded me so much of Reyansh, that my heart started racing.

Then I saw his face, It was HIM, Oh my god! Reyansh Alex Kapoor was in my house. His beautiful chiseled face and gorgeous blue eyes were just as I remembered, though he somehow looked even more handsome than earlier, if that was even possible.

I finally saw him after so many months, he had started to seem fictional or rather a figment of my imagination. But now he was here, he was real. I was flabbergasted to see him casually sitting in my house, sipping on whiskey and conversing with my father.

After a brief and shocking conversation, I got to know that he was the CEO of Katech Inc. - the Exclusive and Highly sought after Security-Tech company, the one recently hired to provide security to our Empire.

Much to my chagrin, Abhay - My Fiancé arrived shortly arrived after me. In typical Abhay fashion he hugged me, but I drew the line when he attempted to kiss me, it somehow felt forced and awkward. It especially felt wrong to do that under Reyansh's watchful eye. I couldn't let Abhay kiss me, so I turned my face at the last second, forcing him to peck my cheek.

All the while I was locked in a staring contest with Reyansh, whose fists were clenched and body radiated tension. I was surprised that the heavy and steamy eye contact we shared wasn't a dead giveaway to those around us.

Abhay and Reyansh were introduced to each other and they shook hands. Though it looked like Reyansh's grip was tight and he glared at him because Abhay flinched, but surprisingly to his credit he didn't make a sound. It almost seemed as though Reyansh was angry at Abhay, for some reason.

....

So much had happened since I had last seen Reyansh, that I almost felt like a different person. I had physically healed but the mental scars still persisted from that horrific day, the most biggest Business deal of my life was signed - with Mr. Alexander and last but not least, I was told that I had to marry Abhay Singhania - my childhood best friend who I hadn't met in over a decade.

The reason I was given for such an abrupt wedding announcement was that it was Strategic Business Plan which would merge a part of both the vast empire's of the Oberoi's and Singhania's. I was also, recently made aware that there was a stipulation, to me inheriting the Oberoi Empire.

According to my Grandfather's Will, I had to get married to a guy from a Business Empire equivalent or more than our's with the blessings of my family, before I turned 24 years old for me to inherit the Business.

'24' was an oddly specific age, but was apparently set by an astrologer based on superstitions, over 15 years ago.

My grandmother revealed this information to me on the night of the announcement, right after the party. She informed me that the deal between the Singhania's and Oberoi's had already been worked out, and it would be in my best and financial interest to sign the agreement.

Being a Business woman, I could see the growth, success and profits that this deal would bring us. As a final ploy, she said, that I knew Abhay and that he wasn't a complete stranger (what she didn't understand was that Abhay was not the same sweet boy that we knew and liked, he was now a playboy, womaniser and a Manwhore. I didn't feel as comfortable in his presence, as I did in the short time I had spent with Reyansh.)

With no other choice and the fact that I wanted to inherit the Empire for which I had been groomed for all my life, I had to abide by her rules. Hence, I agreed to the arranged marriage, but it was purely a marriage of convenience, a business deal.

....

I sat down on the lounger and Abhay like my shadow, sat right next to me. Our bodies were touching from our shoulders to our feet, I had no personal space. Before I could tell him to give me some breathing room, Reyansh shot up from his seat and announced that he needed to get back to analysing and reviewing the security of the mansion.

My grandmother had apparently given him full access to the house, because he looked directly at me and said, "Since Kyra was the one who was recently ambushed and under threat, I will be assessing the safety of her room first!"

He turned on his heel and swiftly started heading towards the direction of my room. He confidently strutted, as though he had been here before and knew the exact directions to my room, which was on the 2nd floor of this ginormous mansion.

I was shocked at his audacity to check my room without my explicit permission. I chased after him to stop him, I had made a mess of my room this morning, searching for my favourite Black Lingerie set (Wearing it under my Business Suits, oddly gave the confidence I sometimes needed to face a boardroom full of people). I had scattered all the other Lingerie across my room in search for the special pair.

I liked organising and cleaning my own room, it felt therapeutic and calming after a long stressful day in the office. Therefore, the staff knew not to enter my room and clean it, unless told otherwise. I was not prepared for Reyansh to see all my lacy and scandalous, Bra's, Thong's, and Silk Negligée's. They were vice, my guilty pleasure.

I called out his name many times, and tried to catch up to him in my high heels, but he was like a man on a mission and did not stop. Very quickly, he reached my room and by the time I reached, he was standing at the threshold of my room looking at the dozen's of pair's of racy lingerie spread out all over my spacious bedroom.

I was absolutely mortified. Gathering courage, I attempted to look at him, he had an indecipherable expression, which he quickly controlled upon feeling my gaze.

Out of nowhere like some creepy stalker, Abhay showed up. He sidestepped us and entered the room, then wolfishly whistled looking at all the lingerie. Could I be anymore embarrassed?

Abhay turned back to me, creepily smirked, then hugged me and put his hands on my lower back (almost resting on my ass). I don't know what his obsession was with hugging me!

He loudly commented, "Wow, my future wife knows how to entice a man. Your room is like a Victoria Secret's elite showroom. I can't wait for you to wear all of this and model for me very soon, future Mrs. Singhania."

Once again, I was facing Reyansh as Abhay embraced me, Reyansh's face took on a murderous look, he was glaring at us hugging and Abhay's statement. If looks could kill Abhay would be dead and buried a 100 feet below.

Just when it seemed like Reyansh's self control had snapped, he stepped forward and was about to physically pull Abhay off of me, Abhay's phone rang. He excused himself saying that it was an urgent call and left the room, thankfully.

As soon as Abhay left, Reyansh pulled me into the room and shut my bedroom door with a loud and resounding bang. He caught me around the waist, pushed me backwards, and caged me against the door. He practically growled, "Why do you keep looking at me when Abhay is touching you? Do you enjoy the attention of many men? Or is this sort of some sick game to you?"

I was enraged at Reyansh's outburst. But with him trapping me like this between his hard muscular physique and the unrelenting door, I couldn't concentrate to tell him to back off or say anything in my defence. One of his hands was near my face and the other hand tightly held on to my waist, I could feel the heat coming off from his body and seeping into mine. He was towering over me and his face was 3 inches away from mine.

But his question's and misplaced anger had affected me, so I gathered my wits and sarcastically retorted with, "Why does my Fiancé touching me, bother you? Are you Jealous or something, Reyansh? Or are you scared of Abhay? that maybe the reason why you waited for him to leave the room, before you pounced on me, huh?"

He gritted his teeth and pressed his body harder against mine, it further pushed me be back against the unrelenting door. His aura was alluring yet terrifying and he said with more anger and passion than I thought possible, "I would tread lightly if I were you, Princess. You do not even know what I'm capable off doing. I always get what I want by any means necessary and unfortunately for you, I want YOU."

He continued, "Me saving you from those goons was not a mere coincidence, Princess. I had been keeping track of you from a long time, because YOU ARE MINE, and I protect and preserve my things. I now have complete access to the Oberoi's, you are merely my puppet now, to do with as I please. Your engagement to Abhay is just a temporary arrangement. I am going to marry you before your 24th birthday and you are going to be 'MY WIFE',.... And that's a guarantee."

His words sent a chill down my spine, I was speechless, because of the surety and confidence with which he spoke. It almost made believe his terrifying words and shook me to my core. He was like a man with a Vendetta, out on the warpath.

Reyansh then got off me, moved me from against the door, opened it and walked out, leaving me in a stupor.

...

Just like that, they transitioned from Acquaintances to Rivals.